Lacson says he never felt Partido Reforma's support since the start of his campaign (Sabong News)
Author
Mario Casayuran
Date
MARCH 27 2022
Independent Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Saturday, March 26 lamented that he never felt the presence of his own party, Partido Reporma, since the start of the presidential campaign period last February.
‘’Kami na lang talaga ni Senate President (vice presidential candidate Vicente C. Sotto III) ang nag-aarrange ng sorties namin (I and the Senate President arranged our political sorties),’’ Lacson said during a media ambush interview during a campaign swing in Pasay city.
In a related development, Lacson said he wanted to satisfy himself on where the P800 million being asked of him by the chief of staff of former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Partido Reporma president, would be going or used.
The issue of Lacson not being able to produce the P800 million supposedly for local candidates led to Lacson’s resignation as Partido Reporma chairman and as a member.
Alvarez later switched his support to Vice President Leni Robredo.
Lacson said it was Alvarez who encouraged him to run for the presidency and who named him party chairman last year.
‘’Inamin naman ni Speaker Alvarez, hindi ba na ipinaliwanag niya yung P779,466,000 ay para sa mga local candidates. I wanted to satisfy myself kung yun talaga ang dahilan (Speaker Alvarez admitted that the P779,466,000 was for the party’s local candidates. I wanted to satisfy myself if that is the real reason),’’ Lacson said.
‘’It appears now, so far hindi yun ang dahilan (there is another reason). There must (be) another reason,’’ he added.
Lacson said he has been trying to contact the 360 candidates of Partido Reporma to find out whether they needed party funding.
‘’So far yung mga nakausap ko, wala pa ako nakausap na sinabing may problema sa funding (So far, none has said that they have funding problems). Sabi nila we can do with what we have, parang ganun ang ano nila at never sila humingi ng pondo (They said they can do with what they have and they never asked for funds),’’ he added.
Asked where the P800 million would go, Lacson explained: ‘’Ay hindi ko na alam yun (I don’t know). Basta yun ang facts as I am stating it now na so far yung mga nakausap ko hindi sila nanghihingi ng pondo kaya gusto ko lang ivalidate kasi na yung dahilan, yung sinabing primary reason, yung hindi maproduce yung P800 million for poll watchers (The persons I have talked to said they have not asked for money. I wanted to validate.. they are saying that is the primary reason ..my failure to produce the P800 million for poll watchers).’’
Lacson emphasized that he could not give the P800 million because he is not corrupt.
‘’Eh dahil hindi nga ako nagnakaw at hindi ako tumanggap ng suhol saan ko kukunin ang P800 million na hinihingi (Because I am not a robber nor do I receive bribes, that is why I could not produce the P800 million),’’ he stressed.
‘’Well, first of all I would like take my hats off kay (to) General Eleazar pati na rin kay (and) Doktora) Padilla, they remain with Partido Reporma,’’ he said referring to the two senatorial candidates who is sticking with him after Partido Reporma announced it was supporting Robredo.
